Great column as always, Andy. Have to say I feel a bit frostier about MAN OF STEEL than you do. You nailed it when you said the movie was 'headache inducing.' The value in any of the innovations in the story are completely smothered under endless battles and and special effects and ear blistering sound design. I can't imagine enduring this bloated, overstuffed, assault on the senses ever again, while for all its problems (Supe's son, for one), I will watch SUPERMAN RETURNS again. Unlike MAN OF STEEL, SUPERMAN RETURNS is not entirely soulless. I think Bryan Singer's sincere approach to the story stands in marked contrast to that taken by the makers of this depressing epic.

Watching the endless finale of MAN OF STEEL, I could only hunker down in my seat, cover my ears, and recall TEAM AMERICA:

Man of Steel, for me, was the biggest surprise of the year. I really liked Superman Returns, so I went into MoS with pretty low expectations. To my surprise, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, and went back to see it a second time, which has been kind of rare for me in recent years. (With rising ticket pickets, I tend to avoid repeat viewings nowadays in favor of seeing something new.) Even my brother, who went reluctantly because he's never been much of a Superman fan, liked it a lot. I picked up the Blu-Ray this afternoon and look forward to watching it again over the weekend.

My only real complaint was Amy Adams. Even while Lois was a little underwritten, I thought she turned out to be a horrible choice, bringing nothing to the role and having zero chemistry with anybody she shared screentime with. I wouldn't mind see her recast, but that's unlikely.